Saturday March 23, 2013

Lahad Datu: Promotion for all cops likely

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI and M. KUMAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are looking into the possibility of promoting all personnel on duty during the Lahad Datu standoff as a way of rewarding them for their sacrifices.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said he would consider such a move although many factors must be taken into account.

“We do not want to create double standards. We want to be fair to all.

“However, there will definitely be a reward for all the heroes based on existing regulations,” he told pressmen yesterday.

Ismail also warned all parties not to politicise or exploit matters on national security.

“My men have died. They are still in Sabah defending the nation. Do not politicise it. We are dealing with a challenging situation and I am proud of all of them,” he said.

He said that some of the allegations made against the police in Lahad Datu had angered him.

“Lives are at stake. My men are at the frontline. They are not protecting just anyone but they are protecting all of us,” he said.

Security personnel standing guard outside Masjid Baithul Rahman Kembara Sakti near Tungku, Lahad Datu, after local residents moved into the mosque for safety reasons. — Bernama

Ismail said he was thankful to Malaysians who offered their condolences to the families of the fallen heroes as well as those who contributed to the Tabung Perwira Lahad Datu.

“Currently, the donation is more than RM2mil,” he said.

He also noted that several CID personnel from Bukit Aman had been deployed to Sabah.

At another event, Ismail said that only remnants of the original militant group had remained in Lahad Datu and they were being hard pressed by the combined forces of the Malaysian police and the armed forces.

“Their situation is desperate and they know this as they can see more and more of their men either lost in battle or arrested,” he said.

He said the situation in Lahad Datu was slowly returning to normal.

“People are no longer afraid to leave their houses and I saw children playing outside and shops opening for business,” he told reporters after attending the final day of the IGP conference with department directors, state police chiefs and unit commanders at the Police College in Cheras.

News

Saturday March 23, 2013

Lahad Datu: Promotion for all cops likely

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI and M. KUMAR newsdesk@thestar.com.my

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI and M. KUMAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my